| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat A (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 24, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
19MB TH was not plowed out this morning, nor was it this afternoon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues really, however both log bridges past first CDT junction have seen better days and are down to their last Nick Walenda balance beam of a log. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One large tree taken out on Wildcat Ridge, a few minor ones on 19MB removed. Another one was cut, and fell in such a way that it will need to be removed when the tree is not frozen. It should be as simple as picking up the tree a bit and dropping it and it will break, its cut into the heart from top and bottom. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A FINE day was had in Douglas' Exception and Bean's Grant. Much like last year, winter arrives in Spring. TH was not plowed, so we parked on the road, which was bare pavement - incredible. We broke trail for a short time, approximately 12" of powder in the sheltered coniferous before being overtaken by two skiers. They went another 1/4 mile or so before deviating north into the woods. We then continued to break trail until 2.7 miles in, when the hut folks started to work their way out. Everyone was in snowshoes today, an absolute surprise. For the foreseeable future they will be the only method of travel that's remotely feasible without the aid of illicit substances. This is very dry, light and fluffy powder, there is no moisture in it whatsoever. Upon reaching Wildcat Ridge Trail junction, it was apparent this was going to be an all out battle. Snow depths in this area are always seemingly in the jackpot zone - compounded by the wind whipping through the Notch. Snow depths where approximately 24-30" in this area, drifts - without hyperbole - where over my head. It was an astonishing amount of snow. We took turns attacking each drift. Chris was routinely in over his waist (he is around 6') and our moving speed was glacial, taking us 90 minutes to go approximately 0.3 miles, not for lack of trying. I went full blast at one that was over my head, it took about five minutes to go that five feet. We made it to 3700, or about 100yds short of the sharp switchback. It was simply not worth continuing, even if it was a March Finish. Tough to maintain heat unless you where breaking. I was able to make two cuts on and 8" tree, and move it off trail, in the time it took Chris to go 50 feet. This will improve through the week with compaction and getting some moisture in the snow. We had better luck riding the sastrugi ridges and making switchbacks then fighting them perpendicular. We'll be back in a few days to finish the job, hopefully. |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, Lil Squirt, CaptChris |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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